Quad SLI 7900's to be shown at CeBit

[maverik-sg1]

VR Zone reports:

We heard faintly that NVIDIA is going to demonstrate Quad SLI technology using GeForce 7900 GTX cards over at CeBIT. Apparently, NVIDIA will be allowing manufacturers to make cards for Quad SLI too. Last but not least, GeForce 7900 GT scored almost the same 3DMark06 score as the 7800 GTX; ~4K.

MAV's Comments:

Interesting (as in disappointing) that the 7900GT scores slightly less than than a standard 7800GTX when (if the grapevine is correct) this is a 90nm version of the 7800GTX, but one would assume that it's an overclockers dream being a 90nm part and should (we hope) overclock beyond standard GTX parameters without volt mods (600Mhz anyone?).

It's an intense moment for all of us as we wait to see if the performance bump of the GTX is sufficient to put it in front of the X1900XTX.

XFX, eVGA and BFG are sadi to be the first to release these parts, no doubt a premium price, but expect 512MB cards to be a more pallateable (or is that less painfull) £400 for generic cards and £425 for the launch partners (XFX, BFG, eVGA).

Reference Quad SLI - reassuringly expensive no doubt, lest we forget that this will put one thing to bed for us - what is the CPU limiting factor in 3dmark 05? There will certainly be no shortage of 3D grunt with 4 GPU's crunching the numbers so I guess we will see if 20k is something we can expect from our FX60 powered systems.

Mav

 

[Vrykyl]

pah - why cant they concentrate on making single core cards better, rather than doubling up, and quadrupling prices....would give cpu's a chance to catch up too....

 

[maverik-sg1]

I certainly agree with you there mate - after all one card is cheaper than two. Also allows you to use the other expansion slots on the board....... which is nice

I believe the roadmap (certainly for nvidia) is dual core GPU's - whether these will be dual GPU or GPU&PPU (physix) is unclear at this stage.

If not G80 certainly G90 will be, expect dual core GPU's this time next year for sure.

I am a big fan of two GPU's on one card, I am not a big fan of no waterblocks being available for such beasts though. Two cores on one card and multi GPU are a precursor to dual cored processing units............. but with the success (and revenue) of two cards, I don't see xfire or sli being discontinued either

I am guilty of overlooking the fact that todays GPUS have more transistors than CPU's - amazing that they run so much cooler really.

Mav

 

[chris_ah1]

Is it because gpus are more specialised processing units - simpler pipelines and processing requirments mean less heat? Are they simpler anymore? It is interesting i have to admit.

Not to mention that GPUs have faaaar more computational power than cpus i think.

 

[maverik-sg1]

There is a thought right now that you can use GPU's for folding in the near future (ati folds better than Nvidia tho)

Mav

 

[Master_G]

I am guilty of overlooking the fact that todays GPUS have more transistors than CPU's - amazing that they run so much cooler really.

IMO it isnt so amazing given the speeds they are working at, we are looking at the 500MHz - 1GHz range for GPUs, CPUs are more like 2.5-3.5GHz.

I'm also not a fan of the doubling up of everything, the heat output of quad SLI with the CPU limitations are enough to make it seem slightly ridiculous to me. But then someone will buy it i guess.

G

 

[scorchio]

I dont think i will be rushing to buy 4 cards at £500 a piece either:O

 

[maverik-sg1]

IMO it isnt so amazing given the speeds they are working at, we are looking at the 500MHz - 1GHz range for GPUs, CPUs are more like 2.5-3.5GHz.

I'm also not a fan of the doubling up of everything, the heat output of quad SLI with the CPU limitations are enough to make it seem slightly ridiculous to me. But then someone will buy it i guess.

G

The heat output will be kept in check by the die shrinkage - ATI intends to go 65nm this year with the X2000 units.

Apart from Quad SLi is not desirable, pureluy for the space it takes up - but sli two dual cards......................... you never know what might tickle your fancy?

The interesting one will be dual, dual-core GPU's on one card

 

[Baron_Greenback]

I dont think i will be rushing to buy 4 cards at £500 a piece either:O

i know who'll buy it.

dazboots

 

[DaGuv]

Hmmmm interesting . I'd have to put my two GTX 512s up for sale tho lol

 

[maverik-sg1]

Hmmmm interesting . I'd have to put my two GTX 512s up for sale tho lol

Best to do it now (on the bay) before the prices slump - still seeling for £475 (if you shop around) the new cards are gonna be £400ish new, you'll be lucky to get £300 a card when that happens

Mav

 

[DaGuv]

When i get my fx55 under phase next week, i'll bench the hell out of them, and then sell em' lol

 

[maverik-sg1]

Be quick mate launch date is march 9th!!

Mav

 

[equilibrium]

Precisley why ive sold or selling mine Im hoping the 7900s will be good clockers as this will be the last upgrade for a while Will wait for the outcome of the 7900s and if they are (crap) basically ill wait for the g80s

DAve

 

[PHILIP1193]

Quad sli is over kill big time, cpu's cant hadle the amount of data gpu's thow its way atm let alone quad gpu, iv read some where that the pwerformace increase after 3 cards is very minimal and at teh cost of each card will b a waste of money, only for teh extremely rich and silly me thinks

phil

 

[maverik-sg1]

3 cards it is then

 

[PHILIP1193]

3 cards it is then

Lol atleast its nice to see a bencher whose got his brain plugged in, but i guess only true results will prove anything - recon we will get any benchmarks at cebit?

Phil

 

[K404]

I`d say yea. THey`ll want to show the power to sway people into buying, and theres very little to be gained from real games- a single card or 2-way SLI will handle those fine- the only place to show benefit is benchmarks

 

[R1_155]

£2000 grand for graphics will be slighty exsesive.As it's only for benching does this mean (as it's not for games) development is now being pushed for benching?

 

[justin]

im sure games will eventually take advantage...when the cards go to a lower price